Max's Toys: A Counting Book

Max and Ruby

by Rosemary Wells

Introduces the numbers one through ten as Max finally trades all his toys for his sister's doll.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Counting

10 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[Capn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowed online from OpenLibrary. :) It's cute - might try it on the preschool audience in the morning and see how it goes. There's a lot of relatable emotions (desire, envy, frustation, pride) packed into this 12 page board book! Impressive. :)

"Max's Toys, Rosemary Wells, Benn, 0510 00067 3, £1.60, is a mini-masterpiece: a counting book (1-10) and a story about Max's yearning for his sister's doll. The combination of words and pictures which tell a story on their own is irresistibly funny. Lots for lap owners (of whatever age) and lap sitters to share and enjoy."

- Books for Keeps, 5 Nov 1980

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl at story time pulled this out for her mom to read to her, and Natalie listened in. When they were done, the mom gave Natalie this book. I liked how it goes over the numbers 1-9 with them embedded in the text. I also liked how it included the word all at the end. One of my favorite things about the Max and Ruby books are the toys that are always present, both in the books and the TV show. This book showcases in particular the mechanical lobster.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosemary Wells is dependable material. The books are short, quirky, amusing--and this one offers counting and identification. Rowan's big into trains, so seeing the 10 car train accident is his favorite part. He doesn't really count along though, despite knowing all the numbers. Sometimes you just don't want to, I guess.

[MacK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me: grandma reports that uncle Matt and I liked this a lot when we were kids, I didn't remember it til we read it but seems like a good sibling book.

Alex: those are some pretty good toys, let's play?

Owen: I never stopped playing.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max has lots of toys and can count them but he really wants Ruby's doll. Will he get it? cute. toddler and up

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Max wants to play with Ruby’s doll.

This board book teaches counting up 1-to-10.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max has a lot of toys, but he loves none of them as much as he loves Emily, Ruby's doll. A wonderful Max and Ruby board book that is a fun counting book as well as a sweet introduction to Max and Ruby.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn't get the logic of this book. Max loves Ruby's doll and of course she doesn't want to share it. But when she suddenly tells him she'll trade the doll for all of his toys I think the resolution is way too abrupt for a little person to cognate.

[Rose Gowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good one.

[Candice Call · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good book to use for counting numbers

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of our son's bedtime favorite. Read almost nightly multiple times, he asks for it by name and quotes his favorite parts. Good for encouraging counting.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max wants to trade all his toys for Ruby's doll Emily.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

My six year old refused to read this, but I think at age 4 he would have loved it. I certainly did. A short 1-2-3 book with a perfect, if peaceful, conflict between siblings about a toy.

[Chelsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids love this book. They love to count all of Max's things with me, and look for all the different toys we counted on the last page.

[Mfoot]

Les jouets de Max

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire LOVES this book. It is a must-read every night.